Pusher plate for slicing machines



Oct. 6, 1931. w. J; CAMPBELL PUSHER PLATE FOR SLICING MACHINES FiledJuly l2. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet Ali.

MME

Oct. 6, 1931. w. J. CAMPBELL PUSHER PLATE FOR SLICING MACHINES FiledJuly 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 6, 1931 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE WILLIAM J. CAMPBELL, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TOAMERICAN SLICING MACHINE COMPANY, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFNEW YORK PUSHER PLATE FOR SLIGING MACHINES Application led .Tuly 12,

My invention relates to a4 slicing machine of the type wherein acircular knife is employed, herein shown as motor driven, and with whichla work carriage is employed,

5 means'being provided for guiding the carriage across .the face andpast the cutting edge ofthe knife. One object of the invention is toprovide an improved pusher plate for use withY the carriage. Anotherobject is the provision of such a plate which shall slide with maximumease toward and away from the face of the knife. Another object is theprovision of means for automatically resisting outward movement of thepusher plate away from the knife beyond a predetermined point. Otherobjects will appear from time to time in the course of thespecificati-on and claims.

I illustrate Vmy invention more or less Y, diagramatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a front elevation;

Figure 2 is an end elevation with parts in section.

Figure 3 is a plan view; and

Figure 4 is a detail.

Like parts areindicated by like symbols throughout the specification anddrawings.

A generally indicates a base or support for a slicing machine and A1'ground engaging members or pads.

Mounted on the base A is a circular knife B with its knife shaft 'B1 andpulley B2 associated therewith. B3 indicates a belt extending to anysuitable power source, for example an electric motor, not herein shown.B4E indicates a guard plate positioned in front of the knife B andincluding an arcuate edge B5 penetrating the recess B6 in front of theknife. B7 indicates a generally bell shaped guard portion the edge ofwhich penetrates the recess BS- at the rear of the knife.

C generally indicates a supporting struc- 'gire upon which is mountedthe gauge plate D generally indicates a track, herein shown as ofcircular cross-section, which has associated with it a rectangular guidetrack D1. D2 generally indicates a work support- 50 ing carriageslidably mounted on the track 1929. Serial No. 377,844.

D and provided with flanges D5 downwardly depending about the track D1.D4 indicates any suitable adjustable engaging members adapted to engagethe4 track D1 and to prevent rotation of the carriage D2 around thetrack D. D5 indicates a work supporting member positioned on thecarriage D2. I illustrate it as pivoted as at D5 to the carriage andconnected to the carriage by the adjusting links D7 controlled by thelocking member D8. It will be understood, however, that the inventionherein described and claimed may be applied to other forms of worksupport.

E generally indicates a handle which i serves also as a guide pin forthe pusher plate E1. E2 indicates al manual handle for the pusher platewhich is connected with the pusher plate by the member E3 and isconnected with the guide pin E by the member E* and the sleeve oradditional handle member E5. Note that the sleeve E5 is adapted formanual grasp. As shown in Figure 4 the sleeve E5 is of interior diametergreater contact therewith. In order to obtain a f bearing contact at theedge of the pusher Vplate opposite from the sleeve E5 I provide anysuitable bearing member generally indicated as E7, the lower edge of thepusher plate being'downwardly extended as at E8.

The upper face of the member D5 may be milled or grooved or otherwisetreated as at E, to form a bearing for engagement with the member E7 or,in case it is worn down or removed with the downward projection E8. Asshown in AFigure 1 a cover B10 is illustrated over the upper arc of theknife. This cover projects outwardly sufficiently to interfere with themovement of the carriage in case the carriage extends upwardly above thelower edge of the cover. In order to permit the tilting of the member D5I cut away the upper edge or corner of the pusher plate as shown at E1".

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practicaland operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in thesize, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from thespirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings tobe taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather thanas limiting me to myrspecific showing.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

I find it desirable tolemploy a pusher plate on the carriage which maybe controlled by the hand of the operator 'which also controls thereciprocat-ion of the carriage. I Ience I provide the guide pinEwhicl1,1n conJunction with thefvuide sleeve E, serves as a handlewhereby tIie carriage D2 may be reciprocated across the face of theknife. Atthe same time, and with the same hand, the operator may urgethe )usher plate toward the work. The member 4 may assist, being engagedby afinger of the operators hand, if desired, or 4beinginterposed'between the operators fingers. `The supplemental handleEglmay also be employed, at the election of the operator,'the o eratoremploying whichever of the two han les suits his need and the length ofhis arm. The pusher plate is mounted Vfor smooth movement upon the pin Eand in order to produce this-smooth movement I employ a' relatively longsleeve E. 'W'hen the operator is withdrawing the pusherplate from thework orthe face of theknife, this movement is so smooth thatl he can liit back ractically by the curve of ay finger. twould lie extremelydisadvantageous to permitfthe pusher plate to drop from the machine and`t-his risk of its dropping increases with'the ease of movement of thepusherplate.

therefore'have employed separate bearings E spaced apart in the sleeveE5. If-the operator Hips the pusher plate'back away from the work, itslides over easily untilA the end of the pinlE clears the outer bearingE. Then, as shown in Figure 4, the weight of the pusher plate causes theouter endy of the sleeve Es to drop and the result is a crampingactionon the sleeve E" which immediately stops the movement of thepusher plate. The

operator can, by slightly lifting the pusher plate, straighten thealignment ofthe inner bearing Eand remove the plate, butV thepossibility of its accidental removal is practically eliminated.

VThe pusher plate is effective at'all adjust- -ments of thepivoted`member D5, being formed` as at E10 to permit its penetrationbeV- neaththe covers B10 throughout the entire range (if-adjustment ofthe support D5.

The lower edge ofthe pusher plate cannot crampor scratch the uppersurface of the member D, since it is spaced out of contact therewith.However,Y in order tof-provide a guide or support for the edge of thepusher plate opposite the guiding sleeve E5 I provide the terminalbearing element E'I or the down wardly depending portion E8. PreferablyI employ an anti-frictional member ET but it may be dispensed with and,if it wears down, the portion E8 takes its lace with the relativelysmall increase in riction. A bearing may be formed or ground as at E onthe edge of the member' D5.

"Note that the handle or pin E, which also serves as guide for thepusher plate, stops -sliort of the cutting edge at the extremity of thecutting excursion, in such fashion that as :long as the operator hashold of the handle he cannot cut himself. Referring for ex ample to thedotted line shown in Figure l, note that the handle E stops just shortof the knife B. If the operator has his hand Vabout thepin or handle Ehe cannot bring his hand into contact with the cutting edge of theknife. Note that the guard E masks the cutting edge and is interposedbetween the end of the handle and the cuttingedge when the device is inthe dotted line position. The relation of parts shown in dotted line inFigure lwill be understood as diagrammatic and it may be desirable,especially if the. guard E20 is omitted, to have the handle Epositionedeven more remotely from the cutting edge, at the end of the cuttingstroke.

Iclaim:

`1. `In association with a slicing machine including a rotary knife andmeans for rotating it, and a work support movable across the fa ce ofthe-knife, a pusher plate associated with said work support, means forguiding it and supporting it Vfor ready movement toward and away fromthe cutting plane of the knife, including a guide pin, a sleeve adaptedto slide on said guide pin, bearings atithe opposite ends of said sleeveadapted closely to engage said guide pin, the intermediate portion ofthe sleeve being spaced away from the guide pin, the guide pin beingadapted to permit one of said bearings to slide beyond the end thereof,and thereby cramp the other bearing upon the pin.

H2. 4In association with a slicing machine including a rotary knife andmeans for rotating it, anda work support movable across the face oftheknife, a pusher'plate associated with said work support, means forguiding it and .supporting it for ready movement toward and Ward andaWay from the cutting plane of the knife, including a guiding elementmounted on said Work support, the pusher plate being freely movabletherealong Within a predetermined range of movement and means forcramping said pusher plate on said guiding element when the pusher platepasses beyond said ran-ge.

4:. In association With a slicing machine including a rotary knife andmeans for rotating it, and a Work support movable across the face of theknife, a pusher plate associated With said Work support, means forguiding it and supporting it for ready movement toward and away from thecutting plane of the knife, including a guiding element mounted on saidWork support, the pusher plate being freely movable therealong Within apredetermined range of movement and means effective for increasing thedifficulty of movement-of said pusher plate along said guiding elementWhen the pusher plate passes beyond said range.

Signed at Indianapolis, county of Marion and State of Indiana, this 20thday of June,

WILLIAM J. CAMPBELL.

